The Public Opinion Soapbox

armed_citizen · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 233 Location: Chambersburg, PA

Just wondering if anyone heard anything on the scanner about this? I came through Scotland a little while ago and saw the mess.

The accident appears to have happened just north of the Woodstock Road overpass. There were multiple pieces of emergency equipment and rescue vehicles on scene (mostly on the northbound side), what appeared to be a truck or mini van badly damaged in the northbound lane, and a northbound 18-wheeler pulled into the median, and perhaps into the southbound lane.

There was also a helicopter on scene, but was powered down and did not appear to be preparing to leave the scene imminently. I-81 was closed in both directions, and the northbound lanes were backed up beyond Walker Road when I came through. Southbound was backed up towards Shippensburg as far as I could see from the 997 overpass. I will be surprised if there are no fatalities involved in this incident.
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Maggie · Joined: 28 Dec 2007 Posts: 79

We must have posted at the same time, I was sitting in traffic waiting to get the Scotland exit and saw the helicopter. The one I saw was in the air but I don't know if it was related to the accident or not. That is such a bad turn in both directions and the painted lines aren't very visible. It's difficult to see how hard the turn is unless you know the road.

armed_citizen · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 233 Location: Chambersburg, PA

Looks like I started typing mine about a minute before yours popped up. My wordiness gave you the chance to 'beat me to the buzzer'. Laughing

I thought there might at least be a 'flash' on the PO site by now. Confused

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Maggie · Joined: 28 Dec 2007 Posts: 79

As I came up on the intersection close to the top of the bridge over the accident there were a LOT of volunteer rescuers / Firefighters parking in the grass along the road. It would have been the fastest way to get down to the wreck but created it's own problem as they were everywhere and it was tricky seeing where they were parked.

Brian · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Chambersburg, PA

Not sure on any fatalities but yes one person was air-lifted (MedEvac landed on I-81 S. for a couple minutes then left to refuel then came back a couple minutes later). About 4 ambulances, 1 paramedic, 4 fire trucks, and 3 state police responded (along with a lot of volunteer POV).

A SUV apparently went under the tractor trailer (causing its back axle to be completely ripped off and sent over the median from I-81 S. to I-81 N.). The SUV came to a stop in the north bound lanes while the tractor trailer came to a stop in the south bound lanes (sideways blocking the entire road). So thats why both north and south were closed for a bit. Once some debris was removed they were able to open one lane on I-81 N. (swerving around the truck half on/half off the road and around the axle still on the road). Once Dave's Towing of Chambersburg showed up I-81 N. was re-closed while Dave's Towing dragged the axle off the roadway and a regular tow truck removed the SUV. Debris was swept and all lanes were open on I-81 N. I 81 S. remained closed until about 9-9:30pm.

All cars sitting in traffic on I-81 S. were redirected backwards by fire police so they didn't have to sit for a couple hours. Tractor trailers were the only ones sitting on the road stranded for a couple hours (probably a nice break for them).

Thanks,
Brian
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Maggie · Joined: 28 Dec 2007 Posts: 79

Thanks for the update, it's more detailed than what was in the PO. There are certain areas on 81 that seem to have more than their fair share of accidents and that turn is one of them.

QueenofHearts · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 373 Location: On the Computer

Brian,
Did you get any pictures?
We had to travel through all of that traffic going northbound to get to the Exit 20. That was our posted spot. (Fire Police)
Did you happen to go to the other wreck later that evening at the 25 mile marker with the 2 car haulers? Stat Medivac flew one out from that accident, too. That accident shut down the freeway for 4 hours. The volunteers had a rough night!
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Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know 'why' I look this way.

I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

Brian · Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Chambersburg, PA